The Bloomberg Commission: Giuseppe Penone: Spazio di Luce

Past Exhibition

At the heart of Giuseppe Penone’s (b. 1947) work is a recognition of our inseparable ties with nature. For this commission, Penone has drawn upon the ancient method of lost wax casting to create a twelve metre bronze tree with a radiant gold-leafed interior. Spazio di Luce (2012) could easily be mistaken for a life-size cast, however where there was once a tree now there is a void.

The inside of the cast replicates the tree’s bark while the finger prints on the outside protect the memory of the many hands involved in the sculpture’s making. This fusion of bark and hand prints continues Penone’s career-long concern with setting the human body in dialogue with the organic world which it inhabits.

Associated with the legendary group of Arte Povera in Italy in the 1960s, Penone’s work over the past four decades has contributed to key developments in sculpture, including site specific installation, performance and land art.

An accompanying display of archive material traces Penone’s historic works, alongside a film of the artist at work in his Turin studio.

Admission free

Supported by:

The Bloomberg Commission invites an international artist to create an annual site-specific artwork inspired by the rich history of the former library. Bloomberg’s support reflects its commitment to innovation, and its ongoing efforts to expand access to art, science and the humanities.